Empathy is often misunderstood—and lately, even criticized. But far from being a weakness, empathy may be our greatest human strength. In this post, the first in a four-part series, we explore why teaching empathy through social-emotional learning (SEL) is essential in today’s classrooms. Backed by neuroscience, educational research, and real-world impact, this article makes the case for empathy as a life-saving, community-building, future-shaping skill every student needs.